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It’s Business as Usual for Participation in Learning by Adults.
Despite the significant investment made by Government in further, higher and continuing education since it came to power in 1997, a survey of participation in learning by adults, launched as part of Adult Learners’ Week, shows there has been no sustained increase during that time.
A new report – Business as Usual - by the NIACE shows that, whilst participation levels have remained similar to last year, when the findings are compared to those of 1996 a more worrying picture emerges – 19% of adults report they are currently learning, the lowest participation figure since before the Government came to power.
Social class has a big impact on participation with rates declining amongst people from the poorest backgrounds (DEs) from 26% to 23%. Also results for older learners are of particular concern, with participation in the three years leading up to the survey among 65 –74 year olds down from 19% in 1996 to 14% in 2004. The news is not all gloomy however; Learning & Skills Council figures show a sharp increase in participation among learners aged 60+ since 2001.
Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE and co-author of the report said, “Looking at the results of this year’s participation survey, it would be easy to become despondent - but now is not the time to take the foot off the pedal. Nearly a year on from the launch of the Government’s Skills Strategy, there are a number of policy initiatives which link work, welfare and learning which all point to the energy and inventiveness of the Government.”
He continued, “However, the relentless focus of funders on achievement targets is narrowing the curriculum offer to adults, as expansion of provision for young people is bought at the expense of their elders. If the goals of the Skills Strategy are to be achieved against this backdrop, more money will need to be found for adult learning in this summer’s spending review settlement. Without it, the risk is that in twelve months time we shall be reporting adult participation under further pressure.”
Source: NIACE Press Release: "It’s Business as Usual for Participation in Learning by Adults." (PDF file) , released on 17 May 2004
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Blair Provides Boost to Adult Learners' Week
News that the Prime Minister wants to give people reaching the age of 40 without 5 GCSEs a second chance to learn, free of charge, has been welcomed by NIACE.
Speaking on the eve of the UK’s annual Adult Learners’ Week, NIACE Director Alan Tuckett said:
“This is good news. Government is waking up to the fact we need to ensure that no-one gets left behind as we raise education and skills levels. The Prime Minister has recognised the symbolic importance of an entitlement kicking in at 40. It signals that we need well-educated, older people as well as younger ones”.
Tony Blair made his comments, reported by the Press Association, on May 13th at a ‘Big Conversation’ event in Coventry.
Source: NIACE Press Release: "Blair Provides Boost to ALW" (PDF file) , released on 14 May 2004
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Linking Learning and Health
New Good Practice Guide From NIACE
One of the main themes of this year’s Adult Learners’ Week (15-21 May) is the positive impact learning can have on our health. A new good practice guide, Winning Hearts and Minds, from NIACE details how to promote health and well-being through participation in adult learning, by setting up and running projects which link learning and health.
Winning Hearts and Minds' follows on from the success of the ‘Prescriptions for Learning’ project - an initiative that bases Learning Advisors in GPs' surgeries or health centres to take referrals of individuals and then work with them to access appropriate learning opportunities. The book incorporates case studies and quotes from learners and practitioners, and includes contact details of leading members of existing projects and useful websites.
Kathryn James, Development Officer for Learning and Health at NIACE and author of ‘Winning Hearts and Minds’ said, “This guide shows you everything you need to know about linking learning and health and will give you ideas on how to win over policy makers, funders, fellow professionals and potential learners to get your project up and running in a sustainable way.”
She continued, “There is so much evidence which proves how learning can positively impact on our health and well-being. In fact it makes perfect sense to invigorate the mind rather than simply resorting to only prescribing medicine and pills.”
| Winning Hearts and Minds: How to promote health and well-being through participation in adult learning, written by Kathryn James, is published by NIACE (ISBN 1 86201 159 1) and is priced £9.95. It is available to buy online. |
Source: NIACE Press Release: "Linking Learning and Health - New Good Practice Guide From NIACE" (PDF file) , released on 13 May 2004
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There's more to learning than qualifications, say employees
Despite the emphasis placed on training and qualifications by government, a new survey suggests that these are not rated so highly by employees wanting to improve their performance at work.
The survey carried out by the NIACE in association with researchers from the University of Leicester, suggests that activities more closely associated with the workplace – such as doing the job, being shown techniques by colleagues, engaging in self-reflection and active observation – can be of more help to employees in raising their performance than attending training courses or acquiring qualifications.
One in four employees reported that training courses were of little or no value in improving work performance and around one in three thought that studying for qualifications had not helped them at work. By comparison, over half the sample thought that learning by doing was the most effective means of improving work performance, with 90% agreeing that they had picked up most of their skills through on-the-job experience.
NIACE Director Alan Tuckett commented, “Qualifications are important but they are not the whole story, too much focus on them could be counter-productive. We do need a well-qualified workforce but getting people motivated and involved requires more and different triggers. Softer structures may be a better way to get hard outcomes.”
Professor Alan Felstead, co-author of the report said, ‘The results suggest that the workplace – and its everyday activities provides the most highly prized sources of learning for employees’. Going on training courses and getting qualifications lay the foundations for initial competence at work, but improved performance is more reliant on doing the job and learning from others’.
He continued, ‘The government has put a great deal of investment in raising training and increasing the qualifications stock of the UK workforce in a bid to close the productivity gap with competitor nations. While this is necessary, the results of the NIACE survey suggest that the most effective route to enhanced performance lies in improved relations within the workplace’.
| Go to: Soft Structures, Hard Outcomes: Headline findings of the NIACE Survey on Learning at Work to download the report. |
Source: NIACE Press Release: "There's more to learning than qualifications" (PDF file) , released on 13 May 2004
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Helping Learners Discover their Potential
A new resource pack - Discovering Potential - from NIACE provides details of essential techniques which will help practitioners and managers who work with adults with low self-esteem to unlock their hidden potential through adult learning.
Written by Kathryn James and Christine Nightingale, Discovering Potential explores what self-esteem is and how it can affect participation in learning, while offering valuable advice and strategies for anyone working on a one-to-one basis with adults who are ‘hard-to-reach’, ‘marginalised’ or ‘socially-excluded’.
Kathryn James, co-author of the report said, “Building confidence and a sense of well-being is increasingly being seen as a means of enabling learners to make the most of their potential and to participate more fully in society. But how do you do it? The key is thinking about what you want to do, getting what you want and keeping what you want - by doing that you are either fulfilling your own potential or helping someone else discover theirs!”
The launch of Discovering Potential will coincide with an event during Adult Learners’ Week (18 May), organised by NIACE and NHSU, the 'corporate university' for the NHS - involving non-professional staff in the health and social care sectors.
Kate Malone, Campaigns Officer from NIACE said, “The event’s about capturing the voices and needs of these staff and drawing up a list of ingredients that will go towards making learning at work a good experience and a reality for low-paid workers in health and social care. By empowering these workers to feel more fulfilled and motivated in the workplace - ultimately they will discover their true potential and this will surely lead to better care for all patients.“
Kate continued, “As one of the delegates (a domestic hospital worker) told me, ‘this is the first time I’ve had an opportunity to attend a conference, it is usually the managers who go!’”
| Discovering Potential by Kathryn James and Christine Nightingale is published by NIACE (ISBN 1-86201-166-4) and priced at £12.95. It is available to buy online. |
Source: NIACE Press Release: "Helping Learners Discover their Potential" (PDF file) , released on 12 May 2004
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Celebrating Families Learning Together
The positive impact family learning has will be celebrated at this year’s Adult Learners’ Week (15-21 May), when the achievements and the role the whole family can play together in lifelong learning will be recognised at the national launch of Adult Learners’ Week, organised by the NIACE.
Awards will be presented at the launch of Adult Learners’ Week (17 May) to the winners of this year’s Family Learning and Family Learning Provision Awards:
 | The White Family from Crawley started a new life after leaving domestic violence in their home. Mother Rachel wanted to feel more confident and help with her children’s homework. Learning Arabic led to a family-learning course and Rachel now works at her son’s school, “Family learning has greatly improved my life…and given me my confidence back.” |
| Sunderland AFC ran ‘Family Learning through Football’ a 10-week programme that gives parents and children the opportunity to learn together about topics such as healthy eating, diet, exercise and planning realistic goals. “The involvement of parents in their children’s learning has a huge impact on how well they do at school.” |
| Norfolk Education Business Exchange provided free science, technology, engineering and maths days which include making and flying paper rockets through to mixing and racing slime! Adults have a chance to watch their children learn and get to learn with them. “People don’t want to go home, several have joined up…and have volunteered to help at future events.” |
Jeanne Haggart, NIACE Family Learning Development Officer says, “Quite often children are the reason why so many parents go back to learning. From reading bedtime stories to helping with homework to teaching them to play safely – these are often the real motivators. All parents want to see their children well and, of course, once they’ve started the parents get the learning bug and this develops into something the whole family can do together.”
This celebration of family learning will coincide with Understand Learning Week (17 –21 May) organised by Parents Online, the DfES initiative that encourages families to use the internet safely and effectively.
Margaret Hodge, Minister for Children, Young People and Families said, “ICT is changing the landscape of education and this is an ideal time for your whole family to get involved together and find out how you can get the most out of your education. Parents play a vital role in supporting children's learning. Knowing how to use the Internet to find educational information for children is one way parents can help.”
Source: NIACE Press Release: "Celebrating Families Learning Together" (PDF file) , released on 10 May 2004
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Celebrating Cultural Diversity Across the Country
As part of this year’s Adult Learners’ Week (15 – 21 May) NIACE is designating Saturday 15th May as Cultural Diversity Day.
Cultural Diversity Day has been created to raise awareness of the different cultures that exist in England today and to promote racial harmony through learning and understanding of how different cultures work and live. Across the country events will be taking place to celebrate the positive impact cultural diversity has had on our communities and our lives, through things like art, sport, music, science and literature.
Lenford White, a Development Officer from NIACE said, “England is rich in all its diversity, across the whole spectrum of life - from art to employment from food to science and technology - but we don’t take time out to recognise and celebrate it. So much good work in the field of challenging racism and promoting cultural diversity through adult education goes unnoticed, Cultural Diversity Day gives a platform for people to come together to share thoughts, experiences, practice and knowledge.”
Events for Cultural Diversity Day May 15 2004 are taking place in Hounslow, Darlington, Manchester Square (London), Hinckley, Nottingham, Leeds, Preston, Manchester and Birmingham.
Source: NIACE Press Release: "Celebrating Cultural Diversity Across the Country" (PDF file) , released on 10 May 2004
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Adult Learners' Week: Indulging a Passion for Learning
Adult Learners’ Week, 15-21 May 2004, is the time to celebrate some of the hundreds of people whose passion for learning has seen them blossom with new confidence and skills.
The Adult Learners’ Week Awards 2004, run by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, will be made across England at a host of regional ceremonies. More than a hundred people will be recognised for their dedication to learning – learning which reaps benefits not only for themselves, but for their families and the wider community.
Gordon Pursglove, Head of European Social Fund (ESF) Division in the Department for Work and Pensions, said:
"I am delighted that this is the thirteenth year European Social Fund money will be used to support Adult Learners' Week. I would like to congratulate all winners, particularly those receiving ESF awards for their hard work and achievements."
The winners (at least five in each region) were announced on Thursday 6th May 2004, including:
| Paulette Bartley, 26, of Nottingham, never went to school because of family circumstances, but has since gained qualifications in mediation and now helps to settle disputes between neighbours. “I liked the idea of helping people gain respect,” she said. |
| Julia Littleton, 60, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, had to rebuild her life after a mental breakdown, re-learning skills and building up her self-esteem. |
| Arthur Padley, 73, from Nottingham, attended a course designed for deaf, older people so he could overcome both barriers, the language difficulty and his embarrassment over his age. |
Click here to find out who all the winners are >
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Press Releases for Adult Learners' Week Award Winners
Members of the Press can view all the Adult Learners' Week Press Releases here.
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DfES Standards Unit Launches New Curriculum Materials
If you teach science subjects, or in business studies, construction or Entry to Employment (E2E) in the learning and skills sector, you will be interested in the “Transforming Teaching and Learning” workshops which will be run in the nine government office regions in England, across each of these four curriculum areas, between 14 June and 9 July 2004.
These free-of-charge, one-day workshops will give teachers, trainers and their managers an exclusive preview of the new teaching and learning materials and their associated delivery strategies developed by the Standards Unit’s expert practitioners. Delegates will get a free CD-ROM containing a selection of the materials and hear directly from those who developed and tested them in a wide range of pilot projects. The materials support improved performance and success rates by learners, and include ideas for stimulating, enjoyable sessions.
The workshops are part of the Governments “Success for All” strategy – a partnership between the DfES and the LSC to transform teaching, learning and leadership in the learning and skills sector. One or two delegates can be accommodated from each provider at each curriculum-specific workshop within each region. Places are limited and attendance will be on a first come, first served basis. You can download further details, including dates and a booking form at www.successforall.gov.uk
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NIACE's New Skills for Life Initiative
NIACE to spearhead new government skills for life initiative for adults with disabilities and learning difficulties
NIACE is to lead a major, new DfES-funded development programme, Learning for Living - Developing access to Skills for Life for adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, on literacy, language and numeracy for adults with learning difficulties and disabilities through six Skills for Life Pathfinder projects across England.
Heading a consortium of key national bodies specialising in different aspects of disability - and working in the community, colleges, prisons and the workplace - NIACE intends to ensure that all partners in the Pathfinders programme work collaboratively with teachers, managers and learners to test and develop what works best in the teaching and learning of the full raft of literacy, language and numeracy skills.
Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE, said “Government has an ambitious target of 1.5 million people improving their literacy, language and numeracy skills by 2007. The innovative Pathfinder programme will not only identify what works, but also help improve provision - thus raising adults’ achievements. We are delighted that adults with learning difficulties and disabilities have been identified as a priority group. Investment in development can make a real difference to this often marginalised group.”
The two and a half year programme - funded by the Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit at DfES - will run to March 2006
Barbara Waters, Director of SKILL, the national organisation for students with disabilities, said “This is a welcome development and builds on all our work in recent years. We look forward to finding out what works best for adults with disabilities learning literacy, language and numeracy.”
Commenting on the Pathfinder programme, Joyce Black of NIACE and the overall project manager, said, “We have been waiting for the chance to undertake work in this area for a long time. This project will give us a chance to get best practise shared among teachers and managers.”
| For more information please contact Narzny Khan (0116 2044293) |
Source: NIACE Press Release: "NIACE New Skills For Life Initiative" (PDF file) , released on 8 April 2004
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